FLORENCE - Edward Alexander MacDonald, age 63 of Florence, passed away Friday, January 12, 2007, following a three year battle with cancer, at home, surrounded by his family and friends. Born in Florence, he was the son of the late Harry and Elizabeth (Barrie) MacDonald. Edward was a member of St. Stephen's Church, Florence. He worked in the coal mines for 38 years with Cape Breton Development Corporation. Edward was very well known for his ability as a carpenter. An avid sports fan, he played hockey all of his life and in his earlier years was a great baseball pitcher. Since his retirement, Eddie spent most of his time with the loves of his life, his grandchildren. Eddie never looked at any one member of his family as being better or different as he loved each and every one the same. He looked up to his older brother, Conrad as a fatherly figure. Edward is survived by his wife, Donna MacDonald, two daughters, Laurie (Harley) Davis; Tracy (Jimmy) Bonnar, both of Florence; two sons, Kevin (Sharon) MacDonald, Durham, N.S., and Jason (Rose) MacDonald, Sydney Mines and extended special family, Wendy (Dale) Nicholson, Dartmouth. Also surviving are four sisters: Carol Johnson, North Sydney; Anne Hutchinson, Digby, N.S.; Viola MacDonald, Sydney Mines; Mary (Mike) Garagan, Halifax; four brothers: Conrad (Rosella) MacDonald, Sydney Mines; Cecil (Selena) MacDonald, Sydney Mines; William (Edna) MacDonald, Florence; Frank (Heather), Halifax; and a special brother, Billy (Eileen) MacDonald, Sydney Mines. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, a large number of nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles and by brother-in-law, John Smith; and sisters-in-law, Thelma and Nan MacDonald. Besides his parents, Eddie was predeceased by brothers: Fred, Haddie, Billy, Barrie, Joseph and David; and by sisters, Muriel Jessome, Helene Kalbhenn, Vivian Fortune and Barbara Smith. Visitation was held Monday, January 15, in Fillmore and Whitman Funeral Home, Sydney Mines. Funeral mass was celebrated Tuesday from St. Stephen's Church with Father Reginald Currie officiating. Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery, Sydney Mines.